Apparatus for enteric lavage.



L. 0- PAIR.

APPARATUS FOR ENTERIC LAVAGE.

APPLICATION FILED APR-6.19M.

1,1 88,47 8. Patented June 27, 1910.

WITNESS UNITED @TATEfi PATENT @FFIQE.

LAURA COSTELLO PAIR, OF DALLAS, TEXAS.

APPARATUS FOR ENTERIC LAVAGE.

Application filed April 6, 1916.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LAURA COSTELLO PAIR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dallas, in the county of Dallas and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Enteric Lavage, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to an improved apparatus for performing enteric lavage or introducing injections to the bowel and in such connection it relates more particularly to the arrangement and construction of the apparatus whereby the enema, after introduction, may be pumped from the rectum to a vessel arranged for the reception of the discharge.

In a weakened condition of the patient and particularly when occasioned by a disturbance of the alimentary tract,'it is difficult for the patient to evacuate the bowel naturally. \Vhen the bowel becomes charged with liquid and gaseous elements as a result of disturbance of the alimentary tract arising from major operations and other traumatic conditions, or from pneumonia, ty-

phoid, colitis or other enteric inflammation,

it is important to draw off these disturbing elements without however subjecting the patient to inconvenient handling.

To meet such conditions and other conditions arising say after plastic operations upon the perineum, such as perineorrhaphy where there is complete tear causing recto-vaginal fistulac, etc., I have devised an apparatus for first performing enteric lavage and thereafter pumping the enema and foreign matter from the rectum to the vessel arranged to receive the discharge.

In carrying out my invention I provide a bag containing the laving fluid and connect the same by pipe. or hose to a tube arranged to be introduced into the rectum. Intermediate of the bag and of the rectal end of the apparatus, the pipe or hose is bifurcated, one branch leading to the rectal tube and the other to a pumping bulb. Means for closing the pipe or hose adjacent to the bag are provided whereby when the bag is emptied connection between the bag and pipe is cut off to prevent air entering said pipe or hose.

The nature and scope of my invention will be more fully understood from the follow- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2'2, 1916.

Serial No. 89,354.

ing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus embodying the main features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view partly sectioned of the fork interposed in the feed pipe, and Fig. 3 is a detail partly sectioned of the rectal end of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a bag or reservoir for the flushing liquid and 2 the pipe or hose leading therefrom to the rectal tube 3. The pipe 2 is connected with the rectal tube section 3 by means of a fork 4, one branch of said fork 4 being connected to tube 3 and the other branch connected by pipe or hose 5 with a pumping bulb 6. The bulb 6 discharges into a pan or vessel 7. On the hose 2 below the bag 1 is located a cutoff device 8 of any well known construction.

In the operation of the apparatus, the bag 1 is filled with the flushing liquid and suspended above the bed on which the patient is reclining to permit the liquid to flow by gravity through pipe 2, fork 4 and rectal tube 3 into the rectum and bowel of the patient. lVhen the bag 1 is empty the pipe 2 is cut off by the cutoff device 8 to prevent air from entering the pipe through the reservoir or bag 1. The fluid in the rectal tube 3 and in the bowel of the patient is now pumped out through pipe 5 by operating the bulb 6 in the manner of a stomach pump and the fluid with fecal matter is discharged into vessel 7.

In the drawings I have shown the simplest form of apparatus for carrying out my invention. Broadly considered the invention consists in first flushing the bowel of the patient with the enteric lavage and in thereafter pumping from the bowel the liquid mixed with fecal matter to a vessel with out permitting of a return of the contaminated liquid to the flushing portion of the apparatus. It therefore comprises in one apparatus a reservoir for the flushing fluid, a pipe leading from the reservoir to the rectum, a means for cutting off the return of fluid from the rectum through said pipe to the reservoir and a means for pumping the contaminated fluid from the apparatus and consequently from the bowel of the patient into a vessel or pan,

Having thus described the nature and objects of myinvention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an enteric lavage apparatus, a reservoir containing the flushing fluid, a pipe leading from the reservoir to the rectum of the patient, a means for cutting off the return of contaminated fluid to the reservoir, and a means for pumping the contaminated fluid from the pipe and from the rectum of the patient.

2. In an enteric lavage apparatus, a reservoir for the flushing fluid, a pipe leading therefrom and terminating in a rectal tube. a fork interposed in the pipe, one branch of the fork connecting the pipe with the rectal tube, a pipe and pumping bulb connected with the other branch of the fork and a, means for cutting off the pipe between the pipe and the reservoir.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

LAURA COSTELLO PAIR. 

